Utah State's Chuck Jacobs (10) runs against the defense of Toledo's Ben Pike (30) during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Matt Cilley)

Ben Pike once thought the worst thing that ever happened to him was when, one month before national signing day as a Mentor High senior, Eastern Michigan pulled its scholarship offer.

Time, and a much more serious situation has changed everything. Pike, who would have been a senior defensive lineman for Toledo this fall and preparing himself for spring ball, recently told Coach Matt Campbell he was giving up the game he's played since he was 7.

His fiancee, 23-year-old Ashlee Barrett, a former Toledo women's basketball player, is battling leukemia, according to Pike. She was first diagnosed with the disease in April and spent 40 days in a St. Louis-area hospital and more time in and out of chemotherapy before doctors informed her the cancer was gone.

Unfortunately, Barrett and Pike have been dealt another setback. The leukemia returned last Friday. Pike plans to finish his final semester at Toledo, earn his degree in education in May and spend as much time with his fiancee in her hometown. After that, he will move to St. Louis, where he and Barrett plan to be married June 15.

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"We talked last weekend and we both decided the best thing I could do for both of us is finish up and graduate this spring," said Pike. "So that's what I'm going to do, finish school and balance time to see her and support her while she's going through this."

Barrett is in the hospital undergoing more rounds of chemotherapy, according to Pike. Eventually, she'll have a stem cell transplant. Pike said two donors found are perfect matches for his fiancee.

The recent bad news hasn't shaken Pike's spirits. He seemed upbeat in a phone conversation with The News-Herald on Thursday night, but admitted nothing has prepared him for this latest round of bad news.

"When I meet the love of my life, ask her to marry me and a couple months later, she gets diagnosed with cancer, you see how little and insignificant your other problems were," said Pike, who proposed on the White House driveway during the team's 2011 trip to the Military Bowl. "When you see a person that you love lying on a bed fighting for her life, school, football, all that doesn't matter. All that matters is making sure she gets better."

As a football player, Pike was an emerging defensive end in reserve and was likely in line to be a starter as a senior. The last two seasons, he had 8 1/2 sacks and his 35 tackles last season were first among defensive linemen.

Pike was also a force in the classroom. On Thursday, he was named Academic All-Mid-American Conference, which Pike said was a nice send-off to his football career. He carries a 3.575 grade-point average, and will be certified to teach social studies for grades 7 through 12. Pike isn't done with football in one respect, as he plans to coach down the road. Until then, he will miss the game immensely.

"I know when August comes around, it's going to be tough," said Pike. "My body will be gearing up for two-a-days, and I'll have nothing to go to. But everything must come to an end sooner or later. I can walk away with no regrets."